RIYADH, 4 November — Interior Minister Prince Naif has urged the personnel of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, who monitor morality in public places, to show “leniency” and respect people’s freedom.
Prince Naif, in a rare visit to the commission’s headquarters late Saturday, called on the personnel to respect the sanctity of private homes and stop prying on people.
The prince underlined the important role being played by the commission and said: “It’s a government institution and should abide by the state’s laws and regulations.”
The commission has no right to raid private homes without prior permission from the province’s governor and should not interfere with people’s freedom so long as they respect the law, he told the commission’s directors.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, Sheikh Saleh Al-Laheedan, chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, and Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Ghaith, head of the commission, attended the meeting.
Prince Naif, however, refuted allegations that the commission has been harassing people, saying that such accusations were exaggerated.
With more than 4,500 officers on its rolls, the commission has wide powers to enforce a strict Islamic code of dress and morality. Usually accompanied by police, they can order the arrest and detention of “violators” or those who resist their instructions.
Prince Naif denied reports that the government was planning to merge the commission with the police department, insisting it would continue to enjoy the backing of the state. The commission has 13 branches across the Kingdom and is planning to open more to spread its operations.
Prince Naif commended the key role being played by the commission’s personnel in the service of the state, religion and society. “The Ministry of Interior fully backs the commission in providing beneficial services to the citizens,” he added.
The commission came in for criticism in the local press in March after it allegedly stopped men from trying to rescue schoolgirls from a blaze that claimed 15 lives for fear of “exposing females to male strangers.”
During the open dialogue, Prince Naif also said that the government will never tolerate ideas and trends alien to Islamic values.
“We believe that there is no room in Islam for the terminology of ‘clergy’, because all citizens should be men of religion,” he said.
“However, there are specialized persons like the ulema (Islamic scholars) and the commission’s men.”
“The state is the custodian of Islam, and it is the authority, which teaches the youth proper principles of Islam, and consequently all other trends are unacceptable,” he said.
Prince Naif refuted reports that the state was planning to undermine the role of the ulema, and said the ulema constituted the point of reference of the state in religious matters.
He said the government appreciated the important role being played by the Grand Mufti, the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the Supreme Judicial Council.
Prince Naif said there was nothing unusual in the differences of opinion among Saudis on issues such as the merger of the Presidency of Girls Education with the Ministry of Education, and issuance of identity cards for Saudi women.
"Everyone has the right to air his opinion in an objective and reasonable manner," he said, adding that "the Saudi rulers have never closed their doors before the citizens and their views".
On the recent assassination of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Saheebani, a judge in Al-Jouf region, Naif said: "We have been doing our best to track down the criminal." He said security measures will be reinforced at all courts.
Referring to charges by certain foreign organizations against those who support Palestinians, Prince Naif said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is the most dangerous terrorist. "Why do they support Sharon and deny our right to provide Palestinians with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance? Why do some quarters adopt double standard when they speak about human rights?" he asked.
Prince Naif affirmed Saudi Arabia’s determination to continue supporting charitable activities, provided the humanitarian assistance goes to those who deserve it.
